Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-26
THE MESSENGER OF ANGELS.
Rev. Dr. Cantine's Theme at tho
Rors street VI. a.. Church.

NV ESEs ~ sHat
fors street VI. Il. Church.
Rev. DR.. Cantine took his text
from Luke 9Th chapter, 10th and 18th
verses, in discussing which he said:
/ do not know that it is necessary to
read the text for it is familiar to all.
Since the day Of Adams expulsion
from the Garden OF Eden, the people
have been waiting for the words OF the
text. Eve taught it to her children.
Noah taught it to his sons and daught-
ers, The seed of the woman shall
bruse the serpents head" Abraham
took up the strain. Isaiah prophesied
that son should be born to Mary, a
savior OF the world. At last the great
event was at hand and now the angels
have come announcing that Savior
had been born in Bethlehem.
This mt ssenger guarded the throne
of God, III hit and day. Our PEG
pie OF to-day think little OF angels.
They cannot have an adequate con-
ception Of an angel. They do not
care TO believe that the nation OF an
gels is one OF truth and reality, hut |
tell you the Bible is full of them.
They are az much a reality as God.
Angels never undertook such glori-
Gus task as this OF which | speak.
They may have been on missions OF
death, of life, OF glory. but never one
SO grand, so magnificent, as this an
nouncement OF the birth OF tn , Savior
OF the world. 1t has long been a GUS
tom to herald the coming OF a great
man. Even to day you may see REM
nants OF this custom, not only i'll
Europe, but in our own land but oh,
was there ever one like unto that oil
the coming of Jesus Christ. Compare
this TO all the glorious pageantry i'll
announcing the advent OF the great
est OF men in this brilliant sphere,
and they lose their transitory glitter
and sparkle, and dwindle into ugli-
ness and responsiveness before that
great white august throng thai lit up
the vaults OF heaven itself on that
eventiul night.
Is it not significant that the per
sons addressed were not kings, but
were shepherds? You notice here
the difference in the messengers and
the people spoken to. There were
kings near. Ii they had gone to the
king perchance the hatred of the
world might have been turned aside.
God makes no distinction of persons.
What is this thing we call distinction
of society? 1 greatly fear social dis
tinctions will one day fail us. Here
we may escape swift-footed justice,
but in that great day there will be no
escape. 1t matters not where we
move, the cleansing fire Of God will
purge US, and if there is left only q
crumbling cinder from the life of
king, who can say his social distinc-
ton repaid him? l pray God that
this great message may be received by
every one here to-day
"Behold bring you tidings OF great
joy" What tidings? me thinks |
hear the shepherds ask. We hear
some such questions now. Some are
now saying from what will He save
u.s." II naught else, | might reply
our own ignorance. ca, lie will
save us from that which prompted
the very question, life de-
void of God in the heart
Before the incarnation of God there
was great gulf between Him and
man, but now this gull is abridged. 1t
did not take away the chasm, it did
not take away the sin; it did not make
God more loving, more merciful, more
powerful; but it has brought him
nearer the hearts Of one God governs
his people, not by his law but the
very throb of his heart.
There is nothing within the concep-
ton of man that is so great and grand
as that which announces that God in
person came into the world to save
his soul. God in his incarnation
showed us that HIS soul, his heart
yearns for our good. He came to show
us the road to happiness. There is
!, no place God comes SO near us az
through this incarnation. lie was
was born as we are, took the same
likeness, the same flesh. BY His
} death he swept away sin, and | an
, here to tell you to-day that you neet
not feel heavy of soul; that we neec
not 20 through this world bowed dowr
J under a load Of sin. One drop o.
J blood will wash il all away. Let M
tell you what we have in this record
, Do youbelieve it; will you accept it
II First-We may die to sin, but oni.
J to live eternal in righteousness, am
} here is the record: '.As in Adam al
: die, so also in Christ shall all be mad
3 lalive."
4 Second--D eliverance from sin.
I'll Third Adoption into the divin
4 family AZ